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York County fans stunned by US-Portugal draw

U.S. soccer supporters gathered at The Embers to watch the Americans play to a 2-2 tie with Portugal

By Colin Snyder

For the Daily Record/Sunday News

Updated:
06/22/2014 11:01:40 PM EDT

Bret Thompson of Springettsbury Township throws his arm around Zach Reider of Red Lion as they celebrate the US's first goal while watching the United States play Portugal in the World Cup at The Embers Restaurant & Lounge in Springettsbury Township on Sunday. The game ended in a 2-2 tie after Portugal scored in the last minute of stoppage time. (Kate Penn — Daily Record/Sunday News)

Bret Thompson of Springettsbury Township puts his head in his hands after Portugal scored the tying goal in the final seconds of play Sunday. (Kate Penn — Daily Record/Sunday News)

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It was a stunning ending for the approximately 20 fans showed that showed up Sunday evening at The Embers Restaurant & Lounge on Memory Lane to cheer on the United States in their World Cup Group G match with Portugal.

With the United States up by one goal, Portugal tied the match with seconds remaining in stoppage time to escape with a 2-2 draw. A United States win would have guaranteed the team a spot in the round of 16 with a Group G match against Germany remaining on Thursday.

"One great ball, that's all it takes," said York Township resident Matthew Scarborough, who was there with his soccer-playing 8-year-old son, Jack. "Heartbreaking. (Cristiano) Ronaldo made a great cross to set it up.

"I feel sick. I really do. But I'll take the tie. It keeps it interesting certainly. Everybody (in Group G) is still in it. But that was a dagger."

The U.S. might need at least a point against Germany to advance. The team can also move on with a loss, depending on the outcome of Thursday's Portugal and Ghana game.

" I love it," Scarborough said. "I don't think we should have beaten Ghana (last Monday in the Group G opener). We got a couple of breaks. Sometimes will and a little magic can win over skill."

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Sunday's event at The Embers was created and posted on Facebook by Springettsbury Township resident Bret Thompson and featured food and drink specials.

"It was a great time at a great spot," Thompson said. "It was awesome to watch it with such a great group of people."

The mood was cautiously optimistic before the match. Some wore red, white and/or blue for the event. Thompson went as far as to buy a personalized USA soccer jersey with his last name and No. 2 emblazoned on the back.

Matthew Scarborough, left, and his 8-year-old son, Jack Scarborough, of York Township join other fans watching the United States play Portugal in the World Cup at The Embers Restaurant and Lounge in Springettsbury Township on Sunday. 'I feel sick. I really do," Matthew Scarborough said after the 2-2 draw. "But I'll take the tie. It keeps it interesting certainly. Everybody (in Group G) is still in it. But that was a dagger." (Kate Penn — Daily Record/Sunday News)

"If we get out of here with a 1-1 tie, I'll be happy," said Greg Myers, a human resources manager the past 15 years at C.S. Davidson, before the match.

Portugal struck first in the 5th minute when Nani beat US goalie Tim Howard. The crowd was mostly silent except for one "What are you doing!?" yelled from up front.

But the United States kept pressing. The crowd got a rise with Fabian Johnson's run down the right side and shot on goal in the 10th minute. Clint Dempsey's free kick that went high in the 13th minute again brought an increase in volume.

"It kind of went the way I expected," Myers said of the first half. "I thought Portugal would dominate in the offensive zone, but the Americans, after giving up that goal, played very good defense and came close a couple of times on offense."

Michael Bradley's shot attempt in the 23rd minute brought some to their feet and Dempsey did the same in the 27th minute. Bradley's slow roller wide to the right in the 27th minute brought a loud, collective "Ohhhhhhhhhh!" from the group.

Johnson was wide right in the 31st minute which led one fan to comment, "It's gonna happen. It's gonna happen," and there was tension in the 43rd minute before Ronaldo's free kick, but cheers erupted when it sailed high.

Howard drew cheers with two big saves right before half.

The entire room erupted in the 55th minute when Bradley had a shot on goal with the Portuguese goalie out of the box. It was blocked by a Portuguese defender.

The crowd laughed when Ronaldo's breakaway shot attempt in the 62nd minute went wide.

Finally, when Jermaine Jones netted the ball in the back of the net in the 64th minute, the collective crowd rose up with arms raised. Hugs and high fives abounded. An "I believe that we will win!" chant was started.

Dempsey's deflection goal off his stomach in the 81st minute blew the roof off the Embers, as everybody lept out of their seats in jubilation and followed up with chants of "U-S-A, U-S-A!" and another round of "I believe that we will win!"

The final minutes were tense with a lot of defensive-themed outbursts from the crowd before Varela's match-tying goal.

"It looked like we had the game in and in the last 50 seconds or so, it falls apart," Myers said. "They still got a point out of it, so that's a positive. The other teams (Portugal and Ghana) are far behind them, so I don't think anything is going to happen there. I think we'll be OK."

From left, Bret Thompson of Springettsbury Township, Zach Reider of Red Lion, Shane Wolf of Springettsbury Township Sean Markel of Spring Garden Township and Dustin Gatewood of Springettsbury Township react to a barely missed goal while watching the United States play Portugal in the World Cup at The Embers Restaurant and Lounge in Springettsbury Township on Sunday, June 22, 2014. (Kate Penn — Daily Record/Sunday News)

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